Brennan's Jordan Murphy goes up for a dunk between Port Lavaca Calhoun's Taylor Lee (left) and Isaac Cardona during the first half. Brennan won 63-42 and will face Alamo Heights at 2 p.m. today at Littleton Gym for a berth in the 4A state tourney.

Brennan's Jordan Murphy goes up for a dunk between Port Lavaca Calhoun's Taylor Lee (left) and Isaac Cardona during the first half. Brennan won 63-42 and will face Alamo Heights at 2 p.m. today at Littleton Gym

Before the boys basketball season began, Brennan guard Johnny Azzinaro said he knew Alamo Heights would be the Bears' biggest roadblock to the state tournament.

That matchup is finally here. Brennan and Heights will play at 2 p.m. today at Littleton Gym in the Region IV-4A final. Brennan (38-2) is the No. 1 Class 4A team in the state. Heights (32-3) is the defending regional champion.

They set up the showdown with victories in Friday's semifinals, as Brennan beat Port Lavaca Calhoun 63-42 and Heights defeated Laredo Nixon 75-56.

“It's going to be the game of the year,” Azzinaro said. “We've kept an eye on Heights since Day 1. I hope the stands are going to be full.”

The Mules had a tougher time getting past their semifinal opponent Friday in front of about 3,000 at Littleton.

Nixon, which made 11 of 36 3-pointers, was within seven points in the third quarter before Heights pulled away.

Heights countered with nine 3-pointers, as Wes Miller led the Mules with 25 points, including four threes. Max Riemenschneider added 17 points, including three 3-pointers, while 6-foot-10 center Ben Lammers had a typical impressive night with 18 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

“And now it's Brennan, a team that's bigger, stronger and more experienced than us,” Heights coach Andrew Brewer said. “I honestly feel like the pressure's more on them.”

Calhoun had no match for Brennan's size, with 6-foot-6 George King and 6-7 sophomore Jordan Murphy starting for the Bears. Brennan built a 24-10 lead after one quarter.

King, who scored 23, hit 8 of 9 shots in the first three quarters, including two 3-pointers. The only miss was on a dunk.

Derick Roberson added 12 and Azzinaro had 10 as Brennan, a third-year school, advances to its first final after losing in the regional semifinals against Edison last year. Isaac Cardona led Calhoun with 17 points.

“After losing in this round last year, we stayed focused even though we knew Heights was probably next,” King said. “We treated (Calhoun) like we were playing the Miami Heat.”